Recent advances in synthetic analogues of lantibiotics: What can we learn from these?

The lantibiotics are a family of antibacterial cyclic peptides distinguished by one or more thioether linkages between amino acid side chains, and by unique modes of action. Recent developments in the chemical synthesis, mutagenesis and mutasynthesis of these peptides are providing insights into the structural requirements for antibacterial activity and into the mode of action, as well as having the potential to produce analogues with greater stability, potency and bioavailability. This Review provides a survey of these recent advances.